UConn football notebook: Red Zone woes

Updated 12:08 am, Monday, October 8, 2012

Photo: Mel Evans, Associated Press

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Connecticut running back Lyle McCombs (43) stands on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Rutgers won 19-3. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

Connecticut running back Lyle McCombs (43) stands on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Rutgers won 19-3. (AP

Missing out on a touchdown in its only opportunity inside the Rutgers' 20 Saturday, UConn's success rate for scoring touchdowns dropped to a very disappointing 52.9 percent (9 of 17). And if you want to point a finger at that inability to score a touchdown when the opportunity presents itself as a major factor why the Huskies are just 3-3 this season, go ahead and point.

"Yeah, there's no question, red zone touchdowns percentage is a big, big deal, not just red zone scoring but red zone touchdown scoring percentage," Pasqualoni said Sunday in his post game conference call with reporters. "From an offensive standpoint, you'd like to be 60 percent. I think if you look at good red zone teams, their red zone touchdown scoring would be about 60 percent, that's a pretty good goal and that's what our goal is down there."

But only three times in six games -- North Carolina State (1-1), Maryland (2-3) and Western Michigan (3-5) -- has UConn been able to reach that 60 percent red zone touchdown scoring success rate. Against UMass, the Huskies managed just two TD's in five attempts, were 1-of-2 against Buffalo and 0-for-1 in Saturday's 19-3 loss at Rutgers.

"A big area on our goal chart is touchdown scoring percentage. It's one of the factors that determines winning and losing, what you do with your red zone opportunities," Pasqualoni said. "We work really hard at it over the course of the week on trying to score touchdowns in the red zone. We just haven't executed quite as well."

Pasqualoni cited a missed block on a third-and-goal play from the Rutgers two-yard line where Wildcat quarterback Scott McCumming was rolling right, looking to pass. Rutgers linebacker Lorenzo Waters got past the missed block, pressured McCummings and forced him to throw a pass high and wide of Martin Hyppolite, who made the catch but was out of bounds, forcing the Huskies to kick a field goal.

"I can't put my finger on one thing (as a reason)," Pasqualoni said. "In the end, it's little things. It's execution. It's paying attention to the real small details, it's having poise down there and executing the assignment."

DONE DEAL: While tailback Lyle McCombs still has to deal with a Nov. 27 court date regarding his arrest early Friday morning for second degree breach of peace, his football punishment was paid in full.

Pasqualoni benched McCombs for the first quarter of the Rutgers game Saturday and said Sunday that no other sanctions against the sophomore will come from him.

"Well, my sense of it is, that it's a done deal," the coach said. "I tried to make certain that I had all the facts and I knew the exact direction it was going before I allowed him to play. So, I'm pretty confident that, and I can't comment any further obviously, but I think it is what it is. It was unfortunate and it's done."

INJURY UPDATE: Reserve fullback Mike Osiecki of Seymour took a hard shot on special teams early in the Rutgers game Saturday and spent the rest of the time sitting on the trainer's table.

"Mike got a little banged up and that'll be a day by day thing," Pasqualoni said. "They're evaluating him for a concussion. So we'll know more after the day off tomorrow."

Osiecki was the only player singled out. Everyone else came out of game in relatively decent shape.